What is BACK BUTTON FOCUS? Why it's a winner for WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY. TUTORIAL.

Back Button Focus is a hot topic in wildlife photography and in this video, Janine outlines why it's such a winner for wildlife photographers no matter which brand of camera you use. The ability to control your composition AND speed things up is a game-changer for nature photography.

In this video, Janine explains what back button focus is and shows practical examples of how you can employ it for bird photography as well as mammal photography.

Timeline:

0:45 How it works
1:45 Why you should use it
2:57 Bird photography
4:00 Focal point limitations
5:15 Manual Focus Override
6:00 Birds in Flight Focusing

Welcome to our channel which is dedicated to the wonderful world of wildlife photography. We endeavour to load one new video every week featuring beginner to advanced photo skills, editing tutorials, hacks and gear reviews. We are based in Northern Botswana in The Chobe National Park and we invite you to travel here, either virtually or physically, and we will do our very best to make you a better wildlife and nature photographer. Enjoy the channel.

#wildlifephotography #backbuttonfocus #photographytips

[PangolinWildlife]

Does this work for you? What are your first impressions after trying back button focus for the first time?

[z]

Finally!! Someone who knows what they are talking about and is able to communicate it clearly..

[The_WarLrd_Way]

People always talk about back button focus but fail to explain the benefits. You explained perfectly! thank you!

[colinalexander]

For once, somebody speaking in easy to understand terms. As an amateur I have found that a lot of the videos talk in technical terms and can sometimes be confusing, but your videos are explained in such a way that you can understand exactly what the function is designed to do. All of the photographers within your company explain things in the same format and I have learnt so much in a short time. Please do not change how you explain things in your videos as they are so informative and easy to understand. I wish that I had found these videos 6 months ago.

[donaldabrams]

A clear, and cogent explanation of backbutton focus without unnecessary extraneous material. And while this tutorial doesn't walk photographers through the settings for their respective cameras, the theory and practice behind bbf are fully explored in this very helpful tutorial.

[deonzar]

I have been using it for about 4 years now and it works for me!...and please excuse me for saying this....but I just have to.... Janine has the most beautiful hands I have seen ... :-)

[Woodpecker]

For some reason, despite using shutter release focusing for 30 years, when I changed to BBF about 5 years ago I instantly preferred it, no need to get used to it, it just seems so natural. No fussing about looking for single shot or continuous focus options ever again. The only issue was remembering that I’d set it up when I came to the camera the following day and wondered for 5 seconds why it wouldn’t focus! (So if someone this stupid can do it anyone can!). The only other downside is that if you need to get someone else to use your camera quickly you have to explain - and afterwards there’s a whole conversation about why you would do it. Now I can just hand them your video. Brilliant!

[clarkconway]

This video helped me to learn that I don't need to press and hold the back button focus, and that I can release the button and then compose my photo. Thanks!

[jimbembinster]

I have not used the back button focus so far. I am shooting mostly birds now and this video has convinced me to give it a try. Thanks.

[jamiew]

This is the first video I have seen that explains back button focussing. I tried this for the first time today. Wow. The ability to lock the focus and move the subject around the frame is fantastic. Thanks for this and other videos.

[virginiarivers]

This is a very clear, organized presentation on the BBF. A few photographer friends with the best of intentions have tried to explain it to me, but it just did not click as being an improvement. This video has me convinced, and is helping me figure out how to get used to it. Thank you!!!

[Stewz]

I'm in the midst of experimenting with BBF. I shoot small wild birds in North America. I'm grateful to you for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[garyrowe]

It's all about what is easiest for you in any particular situation.
For hers in this video, bbf is the obvious choice. However if you are in changing circumstances, you can have the shutter button doing its usual thing but be able to switch OFF the auto focus with the bbf button; that way you can stop the focus hunting by pressing & holding the bbf button. Same result, and available whenever needed. I do it for candid portraits when I'm not in single shot - I focus as usual then hold bbf button in and reframe as required.

[psgviews]

Great video, thanks. I've being using BBF for several years now and find it is invaluable for wildlife. It is also very good for night photography. In the past using the shutter button for focus, I would get focus (forget to turn AF off) then wait for the sky to get good, and then shoot BUT the camera would try to refocus and struggle in the waning light. BBF is worth the little bit of struggle to get used to. But learn it BEFORE you need it so it is second nature when you get to Botswana.

[LunkerFishing]

I have been trying to watch others explain back button focus. They all explain how but none explain why very well. How you explained in this video finally got through to my brain. 
I am going to change my settings right now. Thank You!

[thenderaaa]

5D III - It will do back button focus fine, but I don't use that method. I have 2 buttons set up to stop focus if needed. The af-on button is set to af-off (you focus on your point/subject, press af-on button with your thumb which freezes focus while you recompose and take the shot) and the depth of field preview button is set to switch to one shot if I am in servo mode (while you hold the button with your finger, you switch from servo to one shot if in servo mode or from one shot to servo if in one shot mode). This allows me to keep the camera in the mode most people understand, press the top button to focus and take the shot (if you hand the camera to someone to take a shot it will work the way they expect).

[alohaleslie]

I've watched several tutorials on Back Button Focus by some really great photographers, but none like this! Theirs left me scratching my head because they complicated it with too much rambling explanation. You have communicated simply and clearly Back Button Focus. Thank you so much!!

[novatech]

Oh, it was there all these years. Never gave a thought. Tried today couple of times and it works. Thanks a ton. Made photography that much more easier and enjoyable.

[leasmith]

I use back button focus all the time, I love it, I dont think I could ever go back to trigger focus. Great vid!!

[ExDeadman]

Wow I’ve never seen a chair like that ! I want one.